Apparatus for the treatment of varicose veins



y 17 s. LAKE APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF VAHICOSE VEINS Filed Sept.5, 1924 Pure Rubber" nau ea as 17.1927.

snaon u x n, or nmroan, commc'ncon firm-nus roa m rmrman'r or vamcosnvnn sts.

" Application neesqaemiu- 5, 1924. am in. 36,148.

6 ordinarily racticed, consists in applying a,

hand, usua y of elastic "webbing, directly over the affected veins, andgenerally completely encircling the limb. A ban age of this typeWvhenworn for an appreciable 1 length of time becomes very ir some by rea--,

son of its constant pressure upon arestricted area and the consequentretardation of the circulation of blood throughout that area The objectof my invention is to provide 1 an apparatus for the treatmentofvaricose veins, which, although contemplating the ap- .plication of allnecessary pressure to the area affected'avoitlsthe discomfort andirritation accompanying present practice.

The invention consists in an apparatus for treating varicose, veins"which permits the creation of pressure upon the entire affected areawithout direct contact of apparatus therewith, as 1 will proceed now toexplain and finally claim.

In the accompa'nyin ing the invention, in t e several figures of whichlike parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 shows, in dotted lines, aleg and foot with the apparatus of my invention applied thereto,theapparatus being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detailsection of the upper portion of the apparatus upon a larger scale. Fig.3 is a view similar 3 to Fig.1 but showing modification.

- The-varix or enlargement of veins may be due to two causes,retardation of the flow of blood in the veins, or weakness of the wallsof the veins at certain points; and in either 40 distend the veins. Thisexcess pressure of the blood in the' veins may be counteracted to adegree by pressure applied externally to the affected area, and, ashereinbefore indicated, I propose to apply such pressure substantiallyevenly over the whole area, as dis tinguished from application ofpressure to -rcstricted areas by bandaging in the manner now commonlemployed. I

To this en I provide, by my apparatus, for? the sub antially evendistribution of equal pressure over an extended afieeted area byenclosingsuch area in asuitable coverdrawings illustratcase the pressureof the blood'is such as to ing 'or casing and introducing thereinto acompressed fluid, such as air. By co this compressed fluid within thecasing the pressure of same may be raised to that point requiredto'counteract or balance the pressure of the blood in the veins, thusper niitting unrestricted natural flow of the blood, and, in time,establishing normal conditions in the treated area.'

In Fig. l I have shown a casing 1 of stockin shape and of suchdimensions as to pro- V1 e a space between it and the encased limb. Thiscasing is preferably formed of some non-elastic material such as cloth2, impreg-- "PAT NT QFFlCB nated or coated with rubber 3 so; as to befluid tight and inipervious. The upper end of the casing is providedwith an inturned elastic band 4,-preferablyof pure rubber and capableofsufliciently closely and intimately embracing the limb to preventescape of fluid under pressure introduced into the casing 1.

Arran edin'the fold between the casin l and band 4 isa ring 5,preferably of rub r tubing, provider} with o enings 6 '(Fig. 2)

in it's wall 'through whic air or other fluid under pressure maybeintrbduced into the casing, by means of a pum or compressor,

such, as an ordinary. syr1nge ulb 7, connected by tubing 8 with the ring5. A pressure relief or safety valve 9 of any ordinary type may beinterposed in the ressure lmeto prevent the building up in t e casing'ofundesired or unnecessarily high pressure.

'It;will be apparent that air forced under pressure from thefbulb 7mto'the casing 1 will be 'evenly distributed within the space betweenthe casing and. the limb enclosed thereby. l

T hefband 4, as above described, closely embraces the limb, but itsengagement there-\, with need not be so tight as to cause thatirkson enuinbness caused by elastic bandages, stockings and the like, for thereason that the ressure established withinthe casing 'will ave atendency. to force the band into pressure sealing contact with the limb.

In Fig. 3, I-have shown a modification of the apparatus in whichseparate casings 10 and 11 are rovided for the upper and lower ortions othe limb respectlvely, same bemg joined b a duct or tube '12 wherebypressure esta lishedin ens. casing will be communicated to the other.

pations, and in the latter case the bulb 7 may be concealed in someaccessible portion of the clothing so that thepressure within the casingma bemaintained at the desired predetermine pointw,

Various modifications and changes may be made in the" invention as aboveset forth without departing from its-spirit or from the scope of thefollowing claims, and it should be so construed.

air as the fluid for filling the space between the limb and casing saltwater or alum water, either of which would have a hardening effect uponthe skin. Likewise, cer-- tain gases other than air and which would haveamdicinal effect might be used.

Moreover, in treating wounds my apparatus might be found useful, notonly as a. bandage capable of applying a desired pres sure to the Woundwit out direct contact ,therewith but as a means whereby the wound mightbe medicinally treated or disinfected by the introduction within theeasing of medicinal (Er disinfecting or other gases, such as oxygen andchlorine, or of a member and substantially I K Forvexample, it may befound expedient and beneficial to substitute for compressed.

desired curatiye, disproperties.

fluids or liquids ha in infecting or medicina Q What I- claim is ingfitted to but out of contact with said conforming to the she e 'of saidmember, an elastic band carrie' by said casing and folded inwardlythereof and intimately embracing said body .member, and means forin'troducing fluidunder pressure into said casing including a ring lyingbetween said. casin band and providecLwith a pluraht of openings forevenly distributing the uid under pressure throughout said pasing. a y

\ 2. An a paratus for treating varicose veins of a ody! member,comprisin a cas in'g fitted to but out'of contact wlth said member andsubstantially conforming to the shape of said member, an/elastic bandcarried by said casing and folded inwardly thereof and intimatelyembracing said body memb er, and means for introducing fluid under*pressure intoi said casing includ- 'ing a ring, lying between said casinand said band and provided with a plurality of openings for evenlydistributing the fluid under pressure throughout said casing and a pumpcapable of the person of'the wearer for introducing fluid, un erpressure .into said casing through said ring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day ofSeptember A. D. 1924. i

VSIMKON LAKE.-

and said eing concealedw upon

